Hà Nội struggles with heavy flooding

HÀ NỘI — Hà Nội’s sewers and drains are still unable to cope with the heavy flooding caused by rains exceeding 100mm per two hours, officials said.

Although nearly 90 per cent of the work on the second phase of the city’s drainage project has been completed, it is only able to function properly when rain levels are below 100mm per two hours, director of the Hà Nội Sewage and Drainage Company Võ Tiến Hùng told Tiền Phong (Vanguard) newspaper.

The second phase focuses on upgrading the sewerage and channel system, raising the capacity of the Yên Sở pumping station to 90cu.m. of water per second from the current 45cu.m, improving the water quality of 12 lakes and building infrastructure facilities along the river banks.

During flood season in 2015, some 29 sites were flooded in 12 inner districts of the city.

This year, heavy rains within short periods of less than 40 minutes have already overloaded the city’s drainage system, he said.

At present, some 16 hot spots for flooding have been recorded in the 12 inner districts, where rain levels range between 50mm and 100mm per two hours, including the Lý Thường Kiệt, Phan Bội Châu, Liếu Giai, Đội Cấn and Minh Khai streets.

The company had mapped out a plan to prevent flooding in the capital city in 2016, but these measures were just temporary, Hùng said.

The company will remain vigilant, with equipment and machines on stand-by to dredge canals, install water reservoir systems and maintain pumping systems.

The construction of new sewer systems to collect domestic wastewater and repairs on existing sewers and drains are also underway.

However, for a long-term solution, it is still necessary to build a complete drainage system for flood-prone areas, he said. — VNS